Joseph J. Lhota, born October 7, 1954, is an American Republican politician, public servant, and investment banker known for his roles in New York City government and transportation. He served as New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations from 1998 to 2001 under Mayor Rudy Giuliani and chaired the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in 2012 and again from 2017 to 2018, though in the latter role he did not manage day-to-day operations. He was the Republican nominee for Mayor of New York City in 2013, mounting an unsuccessful campaign. Earlier in his career, Lhota spent 14 years in public finance investment banking, serving state and local governments, healthcare institutions, and NGOs across the United States. In January 2014, Lhota joined NYU Langone Medical Center as senior vice president, vice dean, and chief of staff. He is a trustee of The City University of New York (CUNY) and has held board positions, including as a director at Sphere Entertainment Co. Lhota earned an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, reflecting his blend of public service and financial expertise.